anded of him. He must see her
in seductive solitudes, in still more intimate association. If he could
stay away from Depford Beach! but that was not possible. He was to spend
Sundays with them. But surely Jack would be there then. An almost
careless lover he thought his friend. Was every smile so dear to him?

The doctor and Fred went down with them. Darcy had decided to take a
business trip, so presently Mrs. Darcy joined the seaside household. In
the bygone years Mrs. Lawrence would not have deigned to notice her; but
she found this delicate, mild-mannered, middle-aged woman very
companionable. Circumstances had rendered Mrs. Darcy exclusive, rather
than any inherent trait of birth or breeding. She had lived with a few
people always, and two or three strong attachments had given to her
character the kind of concentration that passes for strength. Yet all of
these had been more positive people than herself; and while this had
softened the tendency to that querulous exactingness that weak, sweet
natures are apt to possess, it had also shaped to certain generous
instincts that were quite free from vanity. Her natural kindliness gave
her the charm of good-breeding, and this settled her in the estimation
of Mrs. Lawrence. She might have possessed all the virtues in the
calendar, but an inharmonious, unpolished turn or act would have
tabooed her. We generally ascribe this grace to life-long culture, or a
certain inheritance of blood, but it occasionally springs from other
causes.

The three women, with natures and aims widely different, fraternized in
the most amiable manner. Sylvie glanced in and out between them as a
gleam of sunshine penetrates the interstices of a wood, and brings out
all lights and tints, itself untouched by any. Their greatest diversion
was driving. Back of the little settlement--it was hardly large enough
for a village, and had a powerful rival some seven miles farther
on--there were country lanes and by-ways, sleepy-looking farms, and
picturesquely careless houses. Below them there was a great fish
_entrepot_, with fishing-boats plying up and down, brawny fishermen
trilling their musical half-chant, half-song, as they floated over the
bay.

It was curious how, presently, Sylvie came to watch for Fred. Truth to
tell, she found Depford Beach a trifle monotonous. No interest of
schools or clubs or young people's affairs, no strong energetic talks
with Jack about mill business, few people coming and